George R. Brown Convention Center

At 1.2 million usable square feet, George R. Brown Convention Center is one of the largest in the nation, and its bright red, white and blue color scheme and nautical theme make it one of the most recognizable.

Anchoring the eastern edge of Downtown Houston, the center is surrounded by some of the most visited attractions in the city, including the ToyotaCenter (home to the NBA Rockets and many blockbuster concerts), Minute Maid Park (home to the MLB Astros) and the 12-acre Discovery Green, cited as one of the most innovative urban parks in the country.

The GRB opened in 1987, replacing a smaller convention center in the center of Downtown that later became Bayou Place. The new center was named for noted Houston entrepreneur and philanthropist George R. Brown, who donated much of the land on which the facility stands. A two-year project to expand the center was completed in 2003, taking the GRB from 1.1 million to 1.8 million square feet.

Slated for completion in 2017, the GRB will now include a 99,000 square foot outdoor plaza and 95,000 square foot concourse, improving connectivity to the GRB’s 550,000 square feet of prime contiguous exhibit space, among other improvements.

The GRB plays host to many of the city's most important events, including the International Quilt Festival, which draws more than 60,000 participants each fall.

For more details on the George R. Brown Convention Center and its specific offerings, visit the facility's listing.

Testimonials

“One of the big selling points for our show is the George R. Brown itself and Discovery Green, just across the street. Our show is in March, and the weather is very nice. So when people go outside and have a chance to spend some time in a nice green area, it's another benefit. It's not a financial issue, but it's certainly one of exhibitor and attendee satisfaction."

– Hugh Easley, vice president of meetings and expositions for the National Association of College Stores

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